Forman Mills

Forman Mills is an American discount apparel retailer and department-store chain based in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The business was established in 1985 in South Philadelphia by Rick Forman, initially operating under the name Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse. Its original identity emphasized a warehouse-style retail format and low prices, positioning the chain around value-oriented clothing rather than premium brands or specialized fashion merchandising. The retailer is known primarily for inexpensive everyday apparel. Its merchandise has included shirts, pants, shorts, capri pants, and hats. This assortment places Forman Mills within the off-price and discount department-store segment, serving shoppers seeking basic clothing and seasonal apparel at accessible prices. The available reference material describes the company mainly as a retail chain and department store, rather than as a manufacturer or a conventional single-label fashion brand. Forman Mills developed from its South Philadelphia origins into a multistore operation serving the United States. The chain is based in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and the referenced encyclopedia material identifies 44 stores. The company’s store-based model and broad clothing assortment distinguish it from narrowly focused apparel specialists: customers can shop across several basic apparel categories within one discount-oriented destination. Ownership changed during the company’s later history. In October 2016, Forman Mills was sold to Goode Partners L.L.C., a New York investment group. In June 2023, the chain was sold again, this time to the Dushey family, the owners of New York-based Shoppers World. These transactions represent changes in control and investment ownership, while the available material does not provide detailed information about changes to store operations, merchandising, financial performance, or management following either transaction. Forman Mills’ competitive proposition is therefore centered on value, accessibility, and breadth of basic clothing categories. Its best-known products are low-priced shirts, pants, shorts, capri pants, and hats, supported by a department-store or warehouse-style shopping experience. There is insufficient source material to establish a detailed national expansion timeline, specific marketing campaigns, financial results, e-commerce strategy, executive roster, or current store count beyond the 44-store figure reported in the referenced Wikipedia entry. The brand remains active according to the supplied material.

Forman Mills was founded in 1985 in South Philadelphia by Rick Forman. The business originally operated under the name Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse, a name that reflected its early warehouse-oriented retail identity and emphasis on clothing sold at low prices. From its beginning, the company focused on apparel rather than on a diversified supermarket, home-goods, or luxury department-store model. The retailer’s assortment became associated with inexpensive everyday clothing, including shirts, pants, shorts, capri pants, and hats. This product mix positioned Forman Mills in the discount department-store and off-price apparel space. Its format was designed to attract customers looking for practical clothing across several categories, with price serving as a central part of the proposition. The company expanded beyond its original South Philadelphia base into a United States retail chain. Its headquarters is in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and the referenced Wikipedia article describes the chain as having 44 stores. The available historical material does not specify the dates or locations of individual store openings, nor does it provide a complete account of regional expansion, distribution, digital commerce, or operating results. A significant ownership transition occurred in October 2016, when Forman Mills was sold to Goode Partners L.L.C., a New York investment group. The transaction changed the company’s ownership while leaving the available reference material without detailed information about the subsequent operating strategy, capital investments, or management structure. A second ownership change took place in June 2023. Forman Mills was sold to the Dushey family, which owns New York-based Shoppers World. This placed Forman Mills under the ownership of a family associated with another discount retail business. The supplied sources do not describe whether the transaction produced changes in branding, store format, merchandising, or corporate organization. Forman Mills’ documented history is consequently defined by three broad phases: its founding in South Philadelphia as a clothing warehouse retailer, its development into a United States discount department-store chain, and ownership transfers in 2016 and 2023. Its enduring market identity is based on low-priced apparel and a broad basic-clothing assortment. More detailed information about store-level operations, leadership after the 2023 transaction, financial performance, advertising, and current strategic priorities is not established by the supplied reference material.

• 2023

  Acquisition by the Dushey family

  [1]Forman Millsen.wikipedia.org

  In June 2023, the Dushey family acquired Forman Mills. The family owns New York-based Shoppers World.

• 2016

  Acquisition by Goode Partners

  [1]Forman Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Forman Mills was sold in October 2016 to Goode Partners L.L.C., a New York investment group.

• 1985

  Forman Mills founded in South Philadelphia

  [1]Forman Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Rick Forman founded the business in South Philadelphia under the name Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse.

A value-focused American discount department-store chain offering low-priced everyday apparel through a broad, warehouse-style retail format.

• Discount clothing · 1985

  Everyday apparel

  Forman Mills is primarily associated with low-priced everyday clothing sold through its discount department-store chain. The assortment is broad rather than limited to one apparel niche, allowing shoppers to find multiple basic clothing categories in the same store. The documented range includes shirts, pants, shorts, capri pants, and hats, with value pricing serving as the principal merchandising characteristic.

• Apparel

  Shirts

  Shirts are among the low-priced clothing categories for which Forman Mills is known. They form part of the chain’s practical, value-oriented apparel assortment rather than representing a separately documented premium or designer line. The available source material does not specify particular shirt labels, fabrics, styles, or seasonal collections.

• Apparel

  Pants, shorts, and capri pants

  Forman Mills has been associated with several lower-priced bottomwear categories, including pants, shorts, and capri pants. These products support the retailer’s broad basic-clothing proposition and give shoppers alternatives across different lengths and everyday uses. No source supplied for this dossier identifies specific product families, brands, materials, or formal collection names.

• Accessories

  Hats

  Hats are part of the apparel and accessory assortment reported for Forman Mills. Their inclusion complements the chain’s clothing-focused department-store format by extending the low-price offering beyond core garments. The supplied references do not provide details about specific hat types, labels, collaborations, or product launches.

• 2023

  Sale to the Dushey familyM&A

  Background

  In June 2023, Forman Mills was sold after its period under Goode Partners. The buyer was the Dushey family, owners of New York-based Shoppers World.

  Action taken

  The Dushey family acquired Forman Mills.

  Aftermath

  The available source identifies the new owner but does not establish subsequent changes to stores, products, management, or strategy.

  Source

• 2016

  Sale to Goode PartnersM&A

  Background

  Forman Mills changed ownership in October 2016 when it was sold to Goode Partners L.L.C., a New York investment group.

  Action taken

  Goode Partners acquired the retail chain.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference material confirms the ownership change but does not document specific operational, financial, or brand-strategy consequences.

  Source

1. 1Forman Millsen.wikipedia.org